PROVIDENCE – The deadline to apply to the 2013 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is one week away and all applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 1.

Roughly 12 applicants will be selected as semi-finalists on April 8 and asked to submit a full business plan by April 16.

The free competition is open to everyone regardless of whether or not they have previously started a business and is organized along two tracks. The competition’s entrepreneur track is for anyone 18 and older, and the student track is for students currently enrolled in college or graduate school.

Winners and finalists stand to share in prizes valued at more than $200,000, including cash awards and professional services. The overall winner will be awarded $45,000 in cash plus more than $20,000 in services.

Winners will be announced on May 14 at The Garage, a half-day event at the R.I. Convention Center, which is hosted by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. All business plan competition events are free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Interested parties can register at www.ri-bizplan.com.

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